NCD Metropolitan Superintendent Commander Ben Turi says that the security operations for the NCD elections process will be lifted up a notch in preparation for the counting period and eventually the declaration.

Turi is adamant that all operations will flow smoothly into the beginning of the counting period set for some time this week.

He adds that the incident that occurred yesterday at the Rita Flynn courts has forced police security to be beefed up.

The NCD Metropolitan Superintendent described the incident as being forced upon by desperate candidates.

Loop PNG was on scene to capture live images of thick black smoke arising from the burning vehicle as residents stood at the junction to prevent vehicles from going up the street.

According to eyewitnesses, the driver was drunk and was allegedly involved in a hit-and-run accident at Six-Mile. He panicked and tried to escape through Five-Mile by making a sharp turn at a street, where his car overturned.

The vehicle was set on fire by opportunists while the driver made a run for it before the newsroom arrived.